Chris Collier, Editorial Director of Loop Magazine, recently interviewed Michael Lawrence, Owner of ICARUS Tinting in Collinsville, Va. In this conversation, Lawrence shared insights into his inspirational personal journey and his multi-decade window tinting career.
Growing up, Michael Lawrence’s father, Dr. William P. Hirsch, wasn’t home much.
“I was born and raised in Hawaiʻi,” shares Michael. “My father was a commander and physician in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor. When he retired, we moved to the countryside in Pennsylvania. Our closest neighbor was like a mile and a half away. My siblings and I would go up to two weeks without seeing him.”
Hirsch (Oct. 24, 1935 – Feb. 12, 2009) received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, in 1957; earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1961. He served his country and community with stints in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps and decades of service in healthcare.
“By the time my brother, sister, and I had woken up for school, dad had already left for the hospital,” Michael says. “We were already in bed long before he would get home. We might see him on Sunday for one or two hours for church, but that was it.”
“I Didn’t Want to be Anything Like Him . . . ” (Circa 1979 – 1985)
“Growing up, I didn’t want to be anything like him because he was never home,” Michael shares. “Of all the sports I was involved in, he never came to any BMX races, martial arts tournaments, or football games. He did make it for ten minutes of a high school basketball game and half of an inning of pony league baseball.”
Michael said that his dad was very cold growing up. He only ever received one, ‘love ya,' and one hug from his father during his life.
“That was when I left for the U.S. Air Force in 1985,” Michael says.
New Beginnings (Circa 1985 – 1989)
A little over a year after entering the U.S Air Force, Michael, 19, endured the devastating loss of his wife, Catherine, who was struck by a driver under the influence of alcohol. It would go on to be one of the many losses he has experienced during his life.
After returning home from the U.S. Air Force, Michael received his B.A. in Business Management from the University of North Carolina. He then returned to Pennsylvania and entered the automotive scene, opening his first restyling shop Phase 5 Concepts.
“I never wanted to do window tint,” Michael says. “I tinted a number of cars for my friends in high school, the Air Force, and college, but I didn’t think it would turn into a career. I’ve always had pretty good hand-eye coordination and I’m a perfectionist, which is a good thing in our line of work.”
Michael credits the late Glenn Myers, his wife Lois, and their daughter Terri Fair, for introducing him to a new career path. Glenn owned and operated Pennsylvania-based distributor SAGR Products Int'l, which offered window film, graphics, and sunroofs at the time.
“Glenn was one of my original mentors,” Michael shares. “He spent hours and hours on the phone with me. If it wasn’t for Glenn, I would not be here today. I love those people.”
Phase 5 Concepts and the Aftermath (Circa 1990 – 1998)
Support from the Myers motivated Michael to add window film to his already-growing restyling business, Pennsylvania-based Phase 5 Concepts. But the momentum faded fast, and Michael slid face-first into darkness. In 1991, just a few years after losing his wife, Catherine, he would lose his second love, Cammy, in a car crash. She, too, was struck by a driver under the influence of alcohol.
“After struggling emotionally with the losses, I fell into drug addiction and I chose to sell Phase 5 in 1995 before I ran it into the ground” Michael says.
Michael then returned to Hawaiʻi, where he took on the role of Assistant Director of Security at a prestigious nightclub in Waikiki.
“I felt broken, and it wasn’t long before I fell back into my drug addiction,” he shares. “My addiction got worse and worse. Sitting on a beach, locked out of my apartment in 1998, my crisis came to a head.”
As Michael was laying on the beach crying, the pain of recent losses engulfed him.
“I walked to the pay phone, and called 911,” Michael says. “I said, ‘My name is Michael, I have a drug problem, and I need help.'”
Michael checked himself into a rehabilitation center and found the help he needed.
Aloh'a Tinting (Circa 2003 – 2013)
Michael re-entered the window film industry in 2003, moving back to Pennsylvania and creating a window tinting company dubbed Aloh'a Tinting. But loss followed him. Michael lost his four closest family members over a span of 15 months.
He went on to lose his grandmother on Thanksgiving Day in 2007; his cousin, ‘Cookie,’ on July 2, 2008, and his nephew, Brandon, on July 14, 2008; his father on February 12, 2009. Reeling from the loss of his father, Michael met his third love, Krista. Michael was happy. Michael finally had a little bit of joy in his life, until he lost her on May 20, 2013, to suicide.
“I’ve lost more than any one man should ever have to lose in his life,” Michael shares. “I’ve lost women that I love, best friends, and family members. But there’s always been a constant: my window tint shops and my tool pouch. It doesn’t matter what type of mood I’m in. It doesn’t matter if I’m tinting a car, truck, or a piece of glass. As long as that pouch is on. This is my sanctuary. It’s where I find serenity.”
ICARUS Tinting (Circa 2018 — Present Day)
Window tinting, and his people, is what carries Michael through the tough times. After several more rounds of hardship, Michael pushed through the pain (again) and re-entered his happy place. In 2018, he founded ICARUS Tinting in Collinsville, Va.
“Each of the 9,400 members of Window Tinters United is a part of my team,” shares Michael, a 36-year window film industry veteran and an admin for the popular industry Facebook group. “For anybody who thinks they can’t make it, you call me. And I will HELP you make it.”
Tinting Together (Present Day)
Years ago, Michael’s late grandmother shared a quote that continues to resonate with him today: “Happiness shared is twice the happiness; Sadness shared is twice less sad.”
In 2025, Michael stands as a highly-respected professional in the window film industry, backed by colleagues who make life's unpredictable journey twice as happy and twice less sad.
Damian Whitehead, Owner of Dr. Tint in Melbourne, Australia
“I’ve known Michael for more than a few years now. He’s that guy that always makes time for you, even when he’s flat out. He’s helped me through some very testing moments in my life and always wears his heart on his sleeve. A very outspoken man, but always brutally honest. He himself has held his head high through everything he’s been through. He’s a dear friend and there’s not a lot he doesn’t know about our industry. To me, he’s someone I respect and trust; Someone whose friendship really matters.”
Mel Villalon of Paradise Tinting in Long Beach, Calif.
"There are a lot of complexities that come daily with this thing we love to do, yet he still finds time to watch over the industry and speak up on matters that affect us all as an industry."
Bill Esposito, Formerly of Film Technologies International, Aegis Films, and Solar Gard
“I have never met a window tinter more committed to his craft and his customers.”
Billy ‘Frickin’ Murray, Territory Manager at Autobahn, Huper Optik, and Edge
“I've had a lot of friends over my life, but Michael reminds me of the loyalty friends share without asking for it. I never asked Michael to be my friend. Circumstances had us meet and start working together. At first, I didn't know how to work with him, but as I did, I remembered to just be myself and he'll do what he does. Real friends let you be authentic, they disagree with you, they respect your decisions, and they don't hold them against you. Michael has been that for me, and I hope we can always keep that honesty and authenticity between us. Even if it's only 30%.”
Erik Devash, Founder of Tint Wiz
“I’ve always known Michael as kind, caring, authentic, and full of passion and dedication to the window film industry.”
Robert Williams, Founder of Pro Tools Now
“Michael is a very good friend, and one of my closest friends in the window film industry today. Michael is driven by ethics; his word is his bond, and I can trust him completely on everything he commits to. He is deeply passionate about his craft and is exceptionally talented. I will always treasure Michael’s friendship.”
Patric Fransko, Founder of Eye Magnet Management and Window Film Pros
“I have met very few people that are as passionate about the window film industry as Michael. He truly cares about helping the industry grow for the benefit of all members.”
Rodney McClure, Owner of Gasket Pro Tools and Ace Window Tinting in Bremen, Ga.
"Michael is as good a tinter as I know. He's an asset to this industry and loves it with all he is."
Community First (Present Day)
Michael works alongside a team of talented industry professionals, including Mary Parks.
“She’s my personal assistant, mother, life coach, financial advisor, and my transportation director—all in one,” he says.
Michael prides himself on giving back, offering discounts to institutions and individuals that serve the Collinsville community, including law enforcement, educational institutions, churches, and animal rescue squads.
“This isn’t about money for me,” Michael says. “It’s about paying forward what we have been given so freely from people like Glenn Myers, George Lewis, John Little, Billy Aiton, Carole Lockwood, and Bill Burke. It’s about honoring the people that came before us. We owe them.”
The Pursuit of Peace (A Work in Progress)
As ICARUS Tinting develops, so does Michael’s pursuit of peace.
“I didn’t realize how great of a man my father was until years later," shares Michael, who celebrates 25 years clean this year. "I spent so much of my life not wanting to be anything like him, but the older I get, the more I realize that if I could be a tenth of the man he was, I will be all right. I have never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He was probably the most ethical man I’ve ever met. He stood for integrity: doing the right thing when no one is looking. Everyone is always amazed when they find out I’m his kid. It makes me proud.”
As Michael grows older, he also understands why his father wasn’t present.
“When I was younger, I didn’t know why he didn’t want to talk,” says Michael, whose father worked in several hospitals throughout his career. “But being around loss and pain all day, he was worn out. I get it now.”
